Shenandoah Anabaptist Science Society

Who are we?

The Shenandoah Anabaptist Science Society (SASS) is located on the campus of Eastern Mennonite University (EMU) in Harrisonburg Virginia . SASS is composed of individuals, academic departments, trans-disciplinary organizations of the university, and community persons. The primary goals of the group include:

Identify and discuss issues at the intersection of science and religion.

SASS is organized and directed by a Steering Committee that includes representation from different campus departments or programs and local persons. The Steering Committee meets periodically to plan and administer programs, give overall direction to SASS, manage the budget, and solicit ideas from the broader membership.

Our focus

The focus of SASS is to create a space for dialogue and promote education on issues at the intersection of science and religion. We intend to bring together persons who are trained in various areas of science and religion to lead in discussing the implications of things such as artificial intelligence, bioethics, nanotechnology, human consciousness, spirit and body, origins, etc.

The educational task of Eastern Mennonite University is rooted in Christian faith and its scriptures as they have been interpreted and lived out in a unique 476-year Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition. This tradition embraces God’s gift of reconciliation through the cross and the power of the resurrection to create new life in conformity to the teaching and spirit of Jesus.

The challenge and intent of SASS is to build on that legacy and promote dialogue and action on scientific issues with faculty and students represented in university academic departments, upper level high school students and faculty, and with professionals in the local community.

Programming to carry out SASS goals includes regular meetings of the membership, creation and maintenance of an interactive web site, speaker forums involving the campus and community, and small group book studies.